Envelope machine



Oct. 25, 1938. Q M 2,134,379

ENVELOPE MACHINE Filed April 11, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet l Oct. 25, 1938. E, Q U N 2,134,379

' ENVELOPE MACHINE Filed April 11, 1956 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 -OCt. 25, 193.8. Q SAUERMAN 2,134,379

ENVELOPIE MACHINE Filed April 11, l936 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Z751 veqg E. c. SAUERMAN- Oct 25, 1938.

ENVELOPE MACHINE I 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed April 11, 1936 um wax &

Oct. 25, 1938. E, c, SAUERMAN 2,134,379

ENVELOPE MACHINE Filed April 11, 1956 I 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 RET RN FUSTAGE RETURN PUSTRGE 2 GURRRNTEED GlIlRRNYEED Patented Oct. 25, 1938 I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ENVELOPE MACHINE 1 Ernst C. Sauernian, Chicago, Ill. Application April 11, 1936, Serial No. 73,843

3 Claims. (CI. 93-73) This invention relates to machines for proconstruction and arrangement of printing means ducing envelopes of the type having bottom and by virtue of which either or both end flaps and/ or side or end flaps, some or all of which are adhebottom flap may be printed while the envelope sively secured together to complete the envelope blank is passing through the machine, during 5 pocket. More especially the present invention process of formation. The printing mechanism is is directed to improvements in or attachments constructed and arranged for performing the for such machines for printing on the back side printing operation after the end flaps and bottom of the envelopes while the envelope blank is flap have been folded and adhesively secured passing through the machine, during the process together to complete the envelope pocket, thus of formation, making it possible to properly secure the bottom 10 For certain commercial uses various types and fl p o either both 0f the d p 0f th ensizes of envelopes are desired, and for certain purvelope since this operation precedes the printing poses it is desired that the back side of theenp rati n- B aus th p t p ra ionis tovelopes be provided with printed matter, such as tally independent ofthe folding operation and instructions for opening, notice for postal inthe adhesive securement of the flaps there is no 15 spection, or other matter. possibility of the adhesive in any way aifecting Generally such printed matter and informathe character or quality of the printing on the tion has heretofore been applied to the backs of v p Th invention s p at s the the envelopes by a separate operation on a printprovision o a novel construction and arrangeing press, after completion of the envelope on an ment whereby the Printing mechanism is ren- 20 v envelope making machine. This practice has dered inoperative in response to the non-feed of often been found unsatisfactory because of time an envelope blank. v

consumption and increase in cost of labor, and Other advantages and objects of the present primarily because the printing press when so invention w pp a in the following s used is not available for use in printing the geno a in connection t t e a co pa y n 2 5,

eral run of work, which, on the whole, is much drawings in which: more profitable than the operation of printing 1 is a Side elevation of the rearward P on the back of envelopes. Manifestly such delay tion f n envelope making machine, embodying in production of higher paying work materially the Present invention;

reduces the margin of profit in handling higher is a plan view of the rearward por n ,30

grade printing jobs. of the c There have been several attempts to solve the Fig. 3 is a transverse section through the maforegoing problem For example, in th Ole chine taken as indicated at line 3- -3 on Fig. 1; Patent No. 1,879,990 there is disclosed a construc- Fig. 4 is a section taken as indicated at, line tion and arrangement for printing on one of the 4-4 on Fig. ,35 end flaps of the envelope. The construction dis- Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view taken closed in this patent, however, has very severe at l n F 1 showing he cam means limitations in that the printed matter may be for assisting in controlling the p t g mechapplied only to one of the end flaps, and which anism, in response to. non-feed of an envelope flap cannot be fully and properly adhesively seblank; 40

cured to the other flap or flaps for completing Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showingthe the envelope pocket, due to the fact that the p nt mechanism d s d in p a iv ,p printing and adhesive applying mech ni m are sition resulting from the non-feed of an envelope carried on the same shaft and operate simulblank;

5 taneously on the envelope blank. Moreover, g. 7 is a fragmentary. section taken adj cent Oles arrangement for printing and applying ad- One end of t e s aft carrying theprinting mechhesive to the respective end flaps is such that anism, including a cam a co perating means there is a great possibility of obtaining imperfect y Virtue o wh ch t e p inting mechanism is and relatively light or heavy printing due to pos- Shifted to and m Operative Position; 1

5Q sible variation in consistency of the adhesive 3 is a sectional View Similar to F 7 shOW- which will tend to either hold the printing plate s th r r adjusted in position corresponding too far from t urface of t envelope or to the disposition of printing mechanism in inopmit the plate to move too close to the surface era-five position, as se n n g. of the envelope. Fig. 9 is a fragmentary section showing the The present invention is directed to a novel feeler finger, disposed in the path of travel of I55 envelope blank and which responds to the nonfeed of an envelope blank, and taken as indicated at line 99 on Fig. 2;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary section of the interlocking means controlled by the feeler finger;

Fig. 11 is a section similar to Fig. 10 showing the interlocking means at position corresponding to non-feed of an envelope blank, and taken as indicated at line |l-H of Fig. 2;

Fig. 12 is a transverse section takenas indicated at i e ,l .on 3., s qwin ithe 9 m control at a position of adjustment'at which the printing mechanism is disposed in operative position;

Fig. 13 is a view similar to Fig. 12 showing the cam control means in a position -.at which the printing means is disposed in tion; Fig. 14 is a plan view of the rearwardside of an envelope, having its flaps provided with printed matter and produced on amachine embodying this invention. -i

The present invention is applicable to envelope making machines of the type for. producing let ter style and/or catalog style" envelopes. By letter style envelope is meant' envelopes of the type generally used for correspondence and the like, and is characterized by having its end flaps folded over against the body panel with the bottom flap adhesively'secured to one or both end flaps for completing the envelope pocket. 'The term catalog style? envelope is used in the generic sense, andis intended toinclude envelopes known as open end, *open side, coupon and othertypes adapted to be used for advertising-matter, data, containers, etci and is characterized by'having its endflaps adhesively secured together, and having the bottom flap adhesively secured to one or both of the end flaps. s

For purpose of illustration I'have selected an envelope making'machine of the type for producing letter style envelopes as indicated-atl, in Fig. 14 which includes end flaps 2- and-3 and top and bottom flaps 4 and respectively. Manifestly envelopes of this type maybe produced so that the bottom flap is adhesively secured to either one or both of the end fiaps,"depending upon the character, or use of the envelopedesired.

For convenience the drawingsdis'close only the rearward portion of'a commercial form of en velope making machine, embodying-the present invention, and in which; the envelope blanks are fed therethrough in-the direction'indicated by the arrow in Figs. 1 and 2. It is to be understood that the envelope blank prior to passing through the portion of the machine illustrated, is first creased to form lines of fold for end, top and bottom flaps. Then the end flaps arefolded over the body portion of the'blank and are fed preferably centrally through the machine over a bed plate! 0, rigidly secured to spaced apart standards orside frames H; The blank with the end flaps folded thereover is then fed to a pair of positively driven friction rollers 13 which cooperate with a driven roller therebeneathinot shown) for advancing the blank forwardly so that the obliquely disposed' adhesive applying'blades indicated at l4, carried on the rotary shaft [5, en-

gage and'applyadhesive to the two forwardmost diagonally extending edges of the folded over end flaps 2 'and 3. Manifestly if desired.- only one of the adhesiveapplying blades may be employed, and the shape and'locationof such blade will naturally depend upon the shape and overlapping arrangement of the flaps of the envelope blank.

inoperative posi- 7 The friction rollers I3 as well as the adhesive applying blades I4, are positively driven by suitable gearing from a main drive shaft, as seen in Fig. 2 of the drawings, so as to continue to advance the blanks through the machine in a predetermined spaced apart relation. The blanks are advanced from the adhesive applying blades by reason of their contact with the resilient surface of a roller, disposed below said blades to a folding mechanism indicated generally at l8. This folding mechanism is well understood in the art, and is constructed so that the bottom or forwardmost flap 5, of the blank is deflected upwardly, and when it arrives at a predetermined position a pair of timed spaced-apart tucker fingers 20 carried on rock shaft 2! engage the blanks, substantially at the score line defining the bottom flap, so that as these tucker fingers move downwardly the blank is fed between a pair of superimposed rolls 23, as seen in Fig. 4, for folding the bottom flap '5 onto the adhesively coated"surfaces of the side flaps.2 and 3 for completing the envelope pocket. The rolls 23 feed the partially formed envelope forwardly over the bed plate .lfl, into engagement with a pair :of spaced apart positively driven friction rollers .25 carried on a shaft 26. Cooperating with said rollers 25 and disposed therebeneath as seen in Fig. .4 is a positively driven roller 29, and said rollers 25 and 29 feed the partially folded envelope through another folding device (not shown) for foldingthetop or sealing flap 4, down on the end and bottom flaps, for completing the envelope- I'he-present invention contemplates the provision of means for printing informationor data oneither or both of the folded end flaps '3 and 3 and/or the bottom flap 5 of the envelope, while the blank is passing through themachine, and this operation is performed after the bottom flap '5 is folded against the end flaps 2 and 3 so that the printing operation is totally independent of the adhesive applying mechanism orthe mechanism for folding the flaps of the envelope blank. The printing means disclosed in'the drawings includes supporting elements 32, carried on the shaft '26 and on each element there is secured printing plate members indicated at 33. Said supporting members are positioned along said shaft26 so that the printing plates 33, are brought into registration with and print the folded end flaps 2 and 3 as indicated in Fig. 14.. Desirably the roller 29 located immediately below the shaft 26 as seen in Figs. 3 and 4 is provided with a resilient or hard surface to serve as an impression roll for the printing plates. As is apparent, each of the members 32 are formed as clamp members and are each provided with clamping screws 34, which permits quick and easy detachable securement thereof along said shaft 26, and therefore said members 32 with their respective printing plates may be quickly and easily removed or replaced or adjusted along on said shaft, and if desired even an additional member 33 and printing plate may be employed for printing on the bottom flap 15- of *said envelope blank. It will also be recognized that these printing members need not theenvelopeblank therebetween while the printing operation isbeing performed. These rollers as well as rollers 23 are all driven from the same power source as the other device previouslydescribed so as to feed the envelope blanks in timed spaced-apart relation to' the other mechanisms of the machine.

The printing plates 33 are adapted to receive ink from inking roller 31 which in turn is contacted by transfer roller 38.. Roller 40, the periphery of which passes through a body of ink carried in a trough indicated generally at 41, picks up a suitable quantity of ink from the trough and transmits it to the surface of roller 42 which oscillates back and forth into peripheral contact with the respective rollers 38 and 40, while roller 38 is shifted axially back and forth, while in contact with the ink applying roller 31,. for evenly distributing a uniform coating of ink .on

the surface of said roller in a manner well understood in the art. The mechanism for causing oscillation of rollers38 and 42 is well understood in the art, and is therefore illustrated in outline in the drawings, and a detailed description thereof is believed unnecessary, other than to state that said rollers are also driven in timed relation to the rotation of the printing plates 33 carried on the shaft 26 by a chain drive as indicated genorally at M.

Envelope blanks as they are fed through the machine of this type initially are mechanically spaced apart a desired predetermined distance, and it is possible that said mechanism may occasionally become inoperative in that it may occasionally fail to feed a blank, thus interrupting a continuous series of spaced apart blanks. Furthermore, during the passage of the envelope blank to the various mechanisms of such a machine, it sometimes happens that a blank must for some reason or other be removed so as to prevent jamming of the machine, to avoid upsetting the timed spaced-apart relationship of other oncoming envelope blanks. Therefore, in order to avoid functioning of certain devices on the machine, there is provided means which is responsive to the non-feed of a blank at certain portions in the machine, and in the present instance this means includes a feeler finger indicated at which is registered with an aperture 19a in the bed plate located forwardly of the adhesive applying mechanism. This feeler finger is of bifurcated formation and straddles a roller member 5| as seen in Fig. 2 of the drawings, and with which roller cooperates a superimposed roller, and between which rollers the envelope blanks are fed in a forward direction. Feeler fingers of this character have heretofore been employed as above mentioned for rendering various devices of the machine inoperative in response to the non-feed of an envelope blank, and in the present instance it may be understood that the feeler finger is connected to mechanism for rendering the adhesive applying mechanism inoperative in response to non-feed of an envelope blank over said finger. I contemplate employing this same mechanism-controlled by,

the feeler finger 56, for rendering my printing mechanism inoperative in response to the nonfeed of an envelope blank, as will presently be described.

The feeler finger 50 is mounted on a transversely extending rock shaft 52 journalled in the side frames or standards II, and connected to one end of said rock shaft is a control lever 53. It may be understood that the feeler finger, rock shaft and control lever 53 are so constructed. and

arranged that theyare relatively sensitive in' that they are normally held in inoperative position :by passage 'ofan envelope blank over said finger,

as seen'in Fig. 9, and when-a blank does not pass thereover at the proper timed interval the feeler finger swings: upwardly ';to' the position indicated in dotted lines insFig. 9, thereby rocking the control lever 53 .in'a downward direction; The outer end .of said lever 53 is provided with a transversely extending portion 53w adapted for interlocking cooperative engagement with a lever arm 55 rigidly carried on a vertically extending rock shaft 56 .journalled in bearings Nb of the adja' cent side frame member vl l as seen in Fig. 1. The end of said lever 55 adjacent theinterlocking end of the lever 53a is provided with an upstanding projection 55a having an aperture 55b through which the extreme end of portion 53a'of lever 53, is adapted to be projected when the finger 50 is actuated by reason of the fact that no envelope blank has been fed thereover in a proper timed interval. The upper. portion of said block on the side adjacent said portion 530, is provided with a V- shaped recess 55c adapted to be engaged by the V-shaped terminal portion 53b of said lever portion 53a for-interlocking engagement therewith while envelope blanks are continuously passing through the machine in proper predetermined spaced apart relation. Connected to the lower end of the vertical rock shaft 56 is a lever arm 59 the outer end of which is provided with a roller 69 adapted for engagementwith the face of a cammember Bl mounted on a transversely extending shaft 62 journalled in the side frames I l, and which shaft is in turn driven by suitable gearing from the main drive shaft of the machine, in timed relation to the feeding devices on the machine, so that said cam makes a complete revolution corresponding to the interval of. time lapsing between adjacent envelope blanks passing a predetermined pointin the machine. Said cam is provided with a raised portion 6la which encounters the roller 60 at each revolution of the shaft 62 so as to rock the lever arm 59 in counterclockwise direction with respect to the view seen in Fig. 5 thereby rocking the vertically disposed v shaft 56 which in turn rocks the lever 55 in the same direction as the lever 59. The levers 55 and 59 are maintained at their innermost position so that the roller 60 is yieldingly maintained in contact with the surface of the cam 6| by a coil spring 63 connected to an extension of the lever 55 and to the opposite frame member ,I l. Thus any rocking movement of the shaft 56 by encounter of the roller 60 with the high point Glut enlarged portion 69a for guiding the pin when it is moved. in axial direction in the socket .10. Circumscribing said pin and reacting against a shoulder, 16a of the socket and the end of the enlarged portion 69a is a coil spring H which tends to oppose retraction of the pin. Mounted on the inner end of the pin 69 is a roller 13 which normally, when envelope blanks are passing in continuous I spaced apart relation through the machine, is disposed in the position seen in Fig. 7 in registration with the hub portion of a cam 16 mounted adjacent one end of the shaft 26;, Said cam is provided with a flangerlia. which normally maintains the roller 13 in such position while envelope blanks are continuouslypassing through themachine. Said fiangeis formed with a cut away portion or notch'lfib as seen in Fig. 12 so that when disposed in registration with the-roller 13 withdrawal of the pin 69 in outward direction will cause said roller to pass through said notch into registration with the camzsu'rfa'ce 160, as seen in Fig. 8 of the drawings. Thus due to .the contour of the cam surface 160, continued'rotation of shaft 26 will cause the adjacent end of said shaft to be raised, thus lifting the printing devices 32, 33, and said rollers 25 out of cooperative relation to the impression roll 29 to the position seen in Fig. 6. This condition occurs, however, only when there is'a breakin the continuous feed of envelope blanks in proper spaced apart relation through the machine.

To permit such movement .of the shaft 26 carrying the printing devices and said rollers 25; the ends of said shaft are carried inbearing blocks 19 mounted in guide-ways in the side frames 1! and are normally urged downwardby coil springs 80. Suitable tensioning devices indicated generally at 8| are mounted on the re: spective frames and permit adjustment .of the tension on said springs to a desired degree for holding the shaft 26 in proper position. Such construction manifestly permits movement of one end of the shaft in an upward direction while the opposite end acts more or less as a fulcrum.

When envelope blanks are continuously passing through the machine in proper spaced apart relation the feeler finger .50 is maintained depressed as seen in Fig. 9 and each time .cam 6| rotates, which corresponds'to the timed interval between adjacent blanks, the highportion Gla of said cam rocks shaft 56 so that the block.portion 55a of lever 55 is moved out of contact with the interlocking end 53b of the lever 53, and as soon as the high point 6| a on the cam is passed the lever 55 returns under the influence of the spring 63, returning the block 55 for interlocking engagement with the end 53b of lever 53, as seen in Fig. 10. As long as the envelope blanks are passing in a continuous series the portion 530. of the lever is maintained substantially at the position indicated in Fig. 10, and it may be understood that the action by the high point Bio of the cam 6| takes place just prior to the passage of an envelope blank over the feelerfinger 50. As will be apparent, this permits the lever 55 to berocked outwardly so that its groove 55c will be moved out of contact with the V-shaped terminal portion 53b of the lever 53 thus allowing said lever 53 freedom of action in the event no envelope blank registers with the feeler finger 50 at the timed interval corresponding to the spaced apart relationship of the blanks. Moreover, as long as the envelope blanks are passing through the machine in a continuous series, the printing mechanism continues to function so that the printing plate successively registers with the. partially completed envelopes at the proper timed intervals.

-In the event that a series of envelope blanks as fed through the machine is broken for any reason whatsoever, or for example upon completion of a run of envelope blanks through the machine, the

feeler finger 5G is thenrendered freetoufunction because at thetime that no envelope blank passes over finger 50, and because the. cam 6| has'just previously rocked lever 55 outwardly releasing the interlockingportion 53a of. 1ever53, the finger cassava 50 may move upwardly to the dotted position seen in Fig.9. When said finger swings to such positionithe interlocking portion 530. of the lever 53 swings. downwardly ito thepositionseen in Fig. 11 so that the terminal portion 53b thereof registers with the aperture 551) of the block 55a which forms a' part of the lever; 55, and as said lever 55 returns, after passage of the high point Bla of said cam; by. the influence .of the spring 63, it telescopes .over the end of the interlocking portion 53a ofthe lever .53, as seen in Fig. 11. Such movement of the lever .55 causes the lever arm 55 to swing outwardly tensioning spring 61 and causing roller 13 to hug the flange 16a. of the cam 'l6 asseen in Fig. '7 of the drawings. Now because there is a period of'time in travel of envelope blanks from the feeler finger 50 to the printing mechanism the means for rendering Y the printing mechanism inoperative must allow for travel of the previous blank that has passed the feeler finger, to be printed, while insuring that the printing mechanism is rendered inoperative at the time which would correspond to the registration of an envelope blank when there is a gap in the continuous feed of the blanks. Therefore, it is to be understood that when the feeler finger .is actuated by reason of the fact that there is an absence of an envelope blank at the time corresponding to the proper interval of spaced apart relationship of the blanks, the open portion 15b of the cam 16 is in the position seen in Fig. '12 so that although the lever 65 has been swung in outward direction tensioning the springfil the roller'13 cannot engage theoperative surface of the cam until thenotch l6 registers therewith, which' will take place uponrotation of shaft 26 a half revolution. When-Said notch 16b registerstwith the roller 13 the tension inspring 61 acting on the pin 69 moves the roller 13 into registration with the cam surface therebytensioning the spring I 1. During said half revolution of the shaft 26 prior to the time that the roller 13 is moved into operativeengagement .with the cam surface 160, it is to be understood that the last envelope blank before the gap, or at the end of the series, has been fed over the bed plate and printed in the usual manner. Manifestly as the shaft 26 continues to rotatewith the roller 13 engaging the cam surface 160 the adjacent end of shaft 26 and bearing 19 will be moved upwardly against the reaction of the spring 80 thereby'lifting the printingdevices 32, 33, and the said rollers 25 out of cooperative relationship-to theimpression roll 29 as seen in Fig. 6.

As long as no envelopes pass through the machine the printing mechanism will be maintained raised in inoperative position. The rock shaft 56, however, will continue to operate as long as cam fil rotates thus transmitting motion to the lever -65 and which because .of its spring connection with the pin 69 releases the tension on said pin at periodic intervals corresponding to roller 13 will be maintained in the position seen in Fig. 8 for rendering the printing mechanism inoperative. When envelopes are again fed through the machine, or when the next envelope after a break in a series passes over the finger 50,

said finger is :depressed and as the lever 55 has been already swungi outwardly, prior to registration of the block-over finger 50, due totheaction of the camil rocking the shaft .56 in timed relation, the block 55a is withdrawn so that said feeler finger is free for responsive action to the passage of an envelope blank thereover. Therefore, as the envelope blank passes said feeler finger and depresses same it swings the portion 53a of the lever 53 in an upward direction to the position seen in Fig, 10 so that upon return movement of the lever 55 by the spring 63 the notched portion 550 engages the V-shaped terminal portion 53?) of the lever 53 and holds said lever 53 from temporary vertical movement, and which in turn blocks complete inward movement of the lever 55. Such blocking movement releases the tension on spring 61 at the end of the lever 55 as seen in Fig. 8 so that said roller 13 under the influence of the tension of the spring 1| is urged against the flange 16a tending to return the roller to its normal free position. However said roller remains confined in cooperative engagement with the cam surface 150 corresponding to an interval representing onehalf of a revolution of the shaft 26 which corresponds to the period of time for feeding of an envelope blank from the feeler finger to the printing mechanism. Thus, after the camv 16 has been rotated to permit registration of its notch 161) with the roller 13 said roller together with its pin 69 is projected inwardly by the spring H to the position seen in Fig. 7. The shaft 26 in such position disposes the printing devices and feed rollers 25 in proper cooperative relation to the impression roll 29 for printing on the partially completed envelope blanks as they register therewith.

Although I have shown and described my invention in connection with a certain type of envelope making machine, manifestly it is adaptable by a slight alteration or modification to other types of envelope making machines, without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention. I do not, therefore, wish to be understood as limiting my invention to the specific form herein shown and described, except as indicated in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a method of producing envelopes containing printed matter on the back side thereof on an envelope making machine, wherein blanks are fed forwardly in seriatim in predetermined spaced apart relation, said. blanks being creased to provide lines of fold, and wherein the end flaps are folded upon'the'bcdyof the blank, the improvement which comprises folding and adhesively securing the bottom flap to one or both of the end flaps to complete the envelope pocket, and then feeding said envelopes, in timed relation with the folding and adhesively uniting operations, for printing on one or more of said folded flaps.

2. In an envelope making machine comprising means for feeding envelope blanks in timed spaced apart relation, means for creasing said blanks to form lines of fold for end and bottom flaps, and means for folding said end flaps, the combination of means for adhesively securing the bottom flap to one or both of said end flaps to complete the envelope pocket, means including a rotatable shaft, and two axially spaced apart rollers carried on the shaft and positioned to frictionally engage the lateraledges'of the partially folded blanks for feeding them forwardly,

' and means on said shaft for printing on one or more of said flaps, subsequent to the adhesive securement of the bottom flap, all of said means for performing said operations on the blanks being operable in timed relation to each other.

3. In an envelope making machine comprising means for feeding envelope blanks in timed spaced apart relation, means for creasing said blanks to form lines of fold for end and bottom flaps, and means for folding said end flaps, the combination of means for adhesively securing the bottom flap to one or both of said end flaps to complete the envelope pocket, means for printing on one or more of. said folded flaps, subsequent to the adhesive securement of the bottom flap, and means responsive to the non-feed of an envelope blank for temporarily rendering said printing means inoperative, said last mentioned means including delayed action connections for permitting completion of the printing operation on an aligned envelope, before rendering said printing means inoperative.

ERNST C. SAUERMAN. 

